<p>Hello,
My daughter has beeb accepted at Loyola Marymount University, Chapman and Barretts Honors College at ASU. I am hoping for some insight from everyone regarding pros and cons of each. Her dream job would be a "fashion magazine editor", interested in public relations, advertising, jounalism and fashion.
We visited all three colleges, each has their own merit, making the choice VERY hard. We are hoping for some insight, as the bottom line as far as we are concerned is - Which college will provide the best internship and help open doors for job opportunities after graduation in her field of studies. Here are also a few insights from our view point:
LMU - Beautiful campus, can't beat a Jesuit education, in LA - Almost no merit money, not enough to make a difference $3,600 per year
Chapman - PR/Advertising Degree, Great merit $$$ $12k per year, however not a very well known school except for film programs
ASU/Barrett - Very affordable, Dean Jacobs makes Barretts program sound like the best program around, lots of educational opportunities - however not sure how favorable a degree from one of the largest parties schools will help in the actual job market</p>
<p>Your insight would be greatly appreciated. Keeping in mind while money is a concern, it's not the top priority - best overall education and contact/intern opps/help opening doors is what is most important when making final choice.</p>
<p>Yes, ASU has a certain reputation, but Barretts has a different one altogether. It is really respected. I’m from Ca but know people in the midwest whose gc’s have recommended it. It definitely has a national reputation. In addition, the Walter Cronkite Journalism School is great (although it might be on the Phoenix campus). Top students often choose to go there because of the great rep and financial aid. It is not like some campuses that say “honors” and it is a few classes. Barretts really functions as a separate LAC. I would strongly consider it.</p>
<p>my niece & nephew both go to Chapman. She is a graduating senior, had an internship which resulted in a job offer. He is a sophomore. He went Greek, she did not. Both had good merit $; both loved it there.</p>
<p>If you have any specific questions I would be happy to pass them on</p>
<p>Note that you can be a Barrett’s student at any ASU campus, though of course the largest number are at Tempe. The Cronkite school is well-respected for many types of journalism.</p>
<p>Thank you insight on ASU/Barrett - Does anyone have any insight regarding LMU. Our private college advisor rates LMU an A. Would like other opinions. Thanks!</p>
<p>One issue to consider is the vastly different sizes of these schools. We did look at LMU & I personally loved it but know several kids who find it “too small” (one graduated from there & another attends there but is considering transferring). S refused to apply to it for that reason & is very happy at USC. Both Chapman & LMU are much smaller than ASU–so really think with your child about the size issue (there are pros & cons with school size). I tried to get S to apply to ASU but he wasn’t interested in any school in Az – for many reasons he wouldn’t share with me (would have been much cheaper for us, as they offer NMFs close to full-ride).</p>
<p>I believe ASU, even Barretts has a pretty high attrition rate, which can be disconcerting when you lose classmates. I can’t remember any more whether it has classes beyond lower division either, into major fields or just intro-type classes. When we were investigating it, I believe most of their courses were just for lower division.</p>
<p>For the LMU student we know who graduated & convinced S not to apply, he was unhappy that the entire computer media department turned out to basically be one prof & the student knew more than that prof about computer media, so was very frustrated. Unfortunately, he didn’t earn high enough grades to be able to transfer to a school he would prefer, so he stuck it out, graduated, & last we heard had a job in his chosen field in LA. [For that matter, S isn’t as impressed with the faculty and courses in EE at USC as he had hoped, but he is happy enough at the school anyway.]</p>
<p>Barrett is really excellent. It’s true that ASU’s attrition rate is higher than smaller schools - it’s a function of the real socio-economic diversity at the school. LMU is a good school, too. Chapman could also be good. </p>
<p>A student who is looking to go into the magazine/journalism field that you describe will want to be extremely attentive to her resources for developing internships in the field. In these respects, a larger university is a good bet, especially if the student is a go-getter. He or she will also want to take a very well-rounded set of courses beyond the major. A good understanding of principles in business and economics is very useful in the field. Background in science wouldn’t hurt either. </p>
<p>Thanks for all your insights. It sounds like everyone feels the best choice for D is ASU/Barrett. She is a go-getter. She told me the other night “Mom, I know everyone says they want to be in the fashion magazine industry and never make it, but I really feel like I can do it. - its not just a dream, I am going to be working for a major fashion magazine.”
And believe it or not - I think she can.
Thanks for everyone’s help.</p>
<p>One other thing, and I’m speaking as someone in the media, I recommend to any student looking to get into this field to plan on getting a master’s degree in journalism/communications/maybe fashion design in her case. All three are good schools, I’d advise her to go where she seems like she’d fit best, then plan on going to NY to do a master’s program, which is where Conde Nast and all the fashion books are located…</p>
<p>Just another point about ASU/Barrett… if she leans toward marketing and business communications, ASU’s WP Carey College of Business is certainly respectable in the field. A few of geek_son’s high school friends are very happily attending ASU as Barrett students; none of them is what you’d call a partier, and none of them has reported any pressure to engage in that sort of behavior. One nice thing about a very large college is that students can find their own “communities” based on their values and interests, and those communities don’t really have to intersect.</p>
<p>And Barrett students, especially NMFs, really get the red carpet treatment.</p>
<ul>
<li>Snobbish.</li>
<li>Political correctness run amok.</li>
<li>“Jesuit education” is a laugh. You won’t find many Jesuits there any more.</li>
<li>Unbelievably inept financial aid office.</li>
</ul>
<p>UPDATE:
Chapman not only gave a 12k merit scholarship, but also an outstanding financial aid package
LMU - financial aid package was next to nothing
ASU/Barretts - outstanding (due to merit award and lower overall tuition)</p>
<p>Basically it’s going to cost about 20k more if she chooses LMU. I’m thinking it’s time to sit down and have a chat about finances, as I am not hearing LMU is worth taking on an extra 80k debt over the next four years. Not sure if beach and palm trees are worth 80k! That is if she can graduate in 4 years. </p>
<p>Keep your thoughts coming, we greatly appreciate all the insight. I was not fortunate to have this opportunity as a child. Had to start working after school to support myself. Worded my way up the old fashioned way! From the bottom up with lots of hard work. So I really want to give her the best opportunity available, without a financial disaster. We can manage the extra 20k but not sure if it is worth it. Sounds like we should save it for a Masters program.</p>
<p>Congrats on the awards! By the way, there is no beach your D can easily reach (walking distance) of LMU, to the best of my memory. Heck, maybe she’s a much better walker than most of us are. </p>
<p>$80K is a significant amount of money – if she REALLY wants LMU over the others, it might be possible to talk with LMU to see if they might budge on their FA package, but wouldn’t count on it.</p>
<p>Might be worthwhile having D think long & hard about what she wants from her ed experience. The $80K difference could go toward enhancing her experience if she went to either of the other Us &/or grad school. If the choice is LMU or masters, I’d opt for one of the other schools + masters. Many good jobs these days require a masters.</p>
<p>Well, ASU is in a separate category than the Southern CA schools due to size and location, not to mention the weather. LMU is small and though it is in LA, it can be a little isolated. (LA has pockets of people separated by oceans of traffic. I lived there for many years and now have a son attending college in LA) I would actually recommend Chapman. It is a gem of a campus near a great little downtown area that is welcoming to the students. None of these three schools is better than the other as far as your daughter’s career aspirations go. She will be able to get internships in the media field (probably not in fashion) at all of them, but will have to go to New York eventually if she is serious about working in fashion. And the previous poster is right about Chapman and the beach, it is very easy to get to Newport Beach from downtown Orange by bus. She should choose the school she likes best, but it shouldn’t be one where she goes $80,000.00 in debt. That is crazy for someone looking to enter a relatively low paying field. Good luck and congratulations on her admissions.</p>